After spoiling Tillakaratne Dilshan's farewell party, Australia would look to seal the series with yet another win when they take on hosts Sri Lanka in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on today(31).
Having conceded the preceding Test series 3-0, the visitors made a strong comeback in the 50-over version to take an early lead with a three-wicket win in the opening game. Even as Angelo Mathews's all-round show helped Sri Lanka square the series in the second match, Australia just about managed to hold their nerve and clinch the see-saw game on Sunday that denied Dilshan a fairytale end.
Steven Smith's controversial decision to leave the tour midway through the series created a furore, but David Warner took to captaincy like a fish takes to water and got off to a winning start to make it 2-1 in Australia's favour.
Shaun Marsh, ruled out due to a thumb injury, will be replaced at No. 3 by Usman Khawaja, who was dropped after a string of low scores in the first two Tests. But what would please the Australian team management is the fact that in every game, a different batsman has stepped up and that the bowling department too has shown tremendous improvement in the 50-over games. Aaron Finch, Smith, Matthew Wade and George Bailey have all notched up at least one 50-plus score in the three matches thus far, while Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner and Adam Zampa have all been amongst wickets.
However, all is not well in the hosts' camp, who seem to be taking longer than usual in the 'transition phase'. Add to it the recent exit of one of their most celebrated limited-overs batsman at the top.
A pitch that turned square from very early in the game backfired for the team who played to their strengths in the series opener. And the under-performing batting order is undoubtedly the biggest of their worries at the moment. Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis have been the only two consistent contributors to Sri Lanka's totals thus far in the series. Mathews scored a match-winning fifty in the second encounter and Kusal Perera chipped in with a half-century too, but none of the other batsman have done anything noteworthy otherwise. In what could be termed as a repeat of the first game, despite Chandimal's valiant hundred on Sunday, the home team folded for a meagre score of 226 leaving their bowlers very little to play with.
With the fourth game lined up at the same venue, it is expected to be another low-scoring affair. Having said, the Sri Lankan batsmen will have to assume more responsibility to ensure that all the hard work put in by their bowlers is not undone. Left-handed bat Sachith Pathirana, meanwhile, has been drafted into the Sri Lankan squad in place of just-retired Dilshan for the do-or-die clash.
(Cricbuzz)
